The Norwich Ice Rink will be closed for up to two weeks after an ammonia spill Wednesday night resulted in damages that could total as much as $50,000.

Nobody was hurt in the incident, but it was a major setback for the facility, which has been trying to improve its finances.

“We were just coming around and all of the sudden this happens,” Ice Rink Authority chairman and City Council President Pro Tempore Peter Desaulniers said Thursday.

After running a $70,165 deficit up to this point in the previous fiscal year, the rink was in the midst of its most financially successful year ever, with a net profit of $22,494 as of Dec. 31.

After Wednesday’s leak, state environmental crews remained on scene until 7:30 a.m. Thursday and cleared the building for occupancy, but the gas leak caused heavy damage to a chiller, which is used to create ice.

Desaulniers said about 4,000 gallons of brine needs to be removed from the site.

Crews from the East Great Plain, Norwich and Mohegan Tribal fire departments responded to the scene Wednesday night.

Rink Manager Mia Sanca said the equipment was original to the building when it opened in 1995.

Desaulniers said there will “definitely be a loss in revenue” from canceled ice skating and hockey sessions, but officials are evaluating the scene and hope to reopen quickly.

He said there are “absolutely” no plans to close the 641 New London Turnpike complex permanently.

Several youth hockey tournaments planned for next week have been canceled, as have all skating programs, practices and high school games.

Earlier this month, the City Council heard from a representative of Sylvan Lake, Mich.-based ThermoSource about the possibility of installing a geothermal system at the city rink, which would use a single integrated mechanical network and replace existing heating equipment.

Desaulniers said it’s an investment the authority is exploring, and Wednesday’s chemical spill may add more immediacy to those talks.

Geoffrey Westfall, of Brooklyn and avid rink user, hopes the technology becomes part of the rink’s operations. He owns three geothermal systems between his home and office.

“The compressor system was fine in the days of cheap energy,” he said. “I love geothermal technology, and to take it to something of this scale is something I want to see happen.”

Sanca said the close-knit sports community that uses the rink has already started to rally around the facility.

“I know that whatever is needed, we’ll have plenty of help,” Sanca said.